Chapter 9: To the Gaon of Light Association

As I returned home, the aroma of my brother's kimchi stew wafted through the broken door, mingled with a wave of nostalgia.

"Oh, you're back? I just finished cooking the kimchi stew."

"Whoa, that smells amazing! Let's grill up a ton of meat too."

"Yeah, let's eat our fill today. Haha…."

A modest breakfast table was set with the meat I'd bought and my brother's kimchi stew. One spoonful ignited my appetite with that signature spicy, tangy flavor only he could make.

"Ahh~ This is the stuff! It's killer!"

"Kid, you ate it last week too. What's with the overreaction?"

"Did I? Haha… Your stew's always delicious, no matter when."

"You sap."

We laughed and chatted as we ate, but soon an awkward silence settled in.

"Really… those guys won't come back anymore?"

"Yeah. I told you, bro. You can relax now."

"You okay?"

"Huh? Me? Why?"

"Well… never mind. Eat up."

He knew what kind of thugs they were, even if I'd paid them off. He probably had a good guess about what I'd done.

Among those living in special residential areas, when an Awakener emerged, there were three paths: be recognized for your abilities and rise gloriously to the center; become a Villain and leech off the district's blood; or seek revenge against Villain organizations, only to meet a miserable end and vanish without a trace.

Bro was likely worried I was heading somewhere between the second and third paths.

"Decided on your career path yet?"

"Career? Hmm… What do you think I should do, bro?"

"Why ask me? It's your decision."

"I will decide, but I wanna hear your thoughts. You worked hard to send me to Hunter Academy, and that's how I Awakened."

"Heh, look at you getting all sentimental… You've grown up. Haha."

His expression softened with emotion as he gazed out the window, then he turned back.

"Not sure if I should say this, but I wish you'd escape this rough neighborhood and live among bright, good people."

"Join a guild?"

"Well, a guild or whatever. Anywhere far from Villains or those dark Black Sheep cult bastards."

"Dark… yeah, right. Gotta stay far from Villains."

I nodded emphatically, feeling a pang of guilt, which seemed to embolden him.

"Exactly! That… Gaon of something… Hunter Association branch, right?"

"Ah… the Gaon of Light Knight Order."

"Yeah! Them! They say you can re-Awaken as a Paladin or something there!"

"Uh… yeah…."

"Then no bad guys would dare touch you!"

"Maybe? Probably… mostly…."

The Gaon of Light Knight Order that bro praised so fervently had produced countless Paladins, priests, and saints.

They were a group of holy warriors who fought mainly by wielding divine power to neutralize dark energy.

In short, a gathering of those desperate to defeat the final boss—me.

"But… getting in there might be tough, huh?"

My hesitant expression deflated his enthusiasm.

"Ah, no. If you like it, bro, I'll join."

"What? Even if I don't know the Hunter world, everyone knows that's not for just anyone! Don't push yourself."

"It's not pushing. And hearing you like it makes me want to go too."

"Aww, Mu-hyuk, why are you saying all the cute stuff today? It's almost creepy cute, haha…."

"Whatever! I'll at least apply."

Whatever the case, I'd try my best for bro's sake. Considering what I'd done in past regressions, I'd chug poison if he asked.

I could probably meet the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Gaon of Light Knight Order's entry conditions, but there was one issue.

'Would their god really accept a Demon King as a believer?'

The Gaon of Light Association.

After gates and monsters flooded the world, collapsing old international organizations, the UHN (United Hunter Nations) was established to foster cooperation among nations' Hunters and rebuild the world.

Among its five affiliates, the one housing a [Prophet of the Future] who foretold dark energy's doom of the world was the Gaon of Light World Alliance.

Korea's Hunter Association's Gaon of Light Association was a special organization inheriting that alliance's policies for international cooperation, mainly handling dark energy-related social crimes and gate invasions.

This naturally put it in direct opposition to the Black Sheep Salvation Cult, with most affiliated Hunters being those Awakened with religious traits.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Paladins, saints, priests, and more divine power users formed a massive fortress of faith—that was the Gaon of Light Association.

Moreover, a vast net of light enveloped a 500-meter radius around the main building, purifying all evil energies and even stripping mana from Awakened Hunters. Thus, dark energy users and top Villains dared not enter this fortified holy sanctuary.

The enabler was Iron-Blood Pope Cheon Myeong-jin.

One of the three Popes of Gaon of Light worldwide, he led the Asian branch with his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠powerful [Iron-Blood Sanctuary] trait protecting the association and its buildings.

His presence prevented the Black Sheep cult from flexing freely.

'That's why in past regressions, I always took him out first. Annoying guy.'

But in this regression, I wouldn't face him. For the future I wanted, he needed to live.

Stepping into the main building triggered the message without fail. Was there still contamination in me? Startled inwardly, I strode forward confidently.

"Whoa? A message popped up? It says the contamination's purified!"

It wasn't just for me—visitors murmured as they entered.

"Please don't be alarmed. In modern life, we're all exposed to 0.8~1% dark energy. The hidden dark contamination in your bodies has just been purified by Iron-Blood Pope's blessing."

Reassured by the guide's kind explanation, people entered the main hall.

"General worshippers, please use entrance 5. Re-Awakeners, entrance 3."

A Paladin in gleaming armor, wielding a long white spear, boomed the instructions, and people hurried to their gates.

The Gaon of Light main hall opened at 7 a.m. as a holy site, always crowded with patients seeking divine healing and devout believers.

Paladins were stationed everywhere to guide and control the throngs….

Each was a high-level Hunter with insane levels. That was why even ordinary believers and Awakeners like me obeyed without question. Above all, the barrier around the main hall had powerful mental magic to restrain intruders like Villains.

"Out of my way. You think a fresh Academy punk like you can stand in front of me?"

At entrance 3, lining up, I turned at the voice. A burly man in flashy warrior armor glared, eyes bulging. Wearing my spare Academy uniform, I guess it irked him.

Fearing another unwanted info window, I whipped my head away, making his lip twitch.

"This punk ignoring me?!?"

He reflexively raised his hand threateningly, but suddenly crumpled to his knees as if crushed.

"Urk! Wh-what…?!"

"You there! Causing a disturbance means expulsion from the premises. What disgrace in this sacred hall!"

"P-Paladin?! N-no… it's just…."

The man, there for re-Awakening, was dragged off by Paladins. Onlookers clucked their tongues.

"Didn't know causing a fuss triggers the barrier?"

"A guy with such poor character aiming for Paladin re-Awakening? Wishful thinking."

If poor character bars re-Awakening, then this regression's Demon King shouldn't even dream. Feeling uneasy, I rubbed my face, but the guy ahead patted me, misunderstanding.

"Don't worry, kid. It's safe here. That jerk won't come back."

"Yeah… too bad."

"Uh, huh?"

Perplexed by my unexpected reply, I averted my eyes and scanned around.

One example quieted the rowdy Awakeners; they stood in perfect order.

Then, murmurs rose, attention focusing ahead.

"Knight Order Captain!"

"1st Knight Order Leader too!"

'Knight Order Captain… that guy.'

Turning at familiar titles, I saw two figures entering, surrounded by escorts.

Sacrificial Executor of Justice. Kang Dae-jin.

An inaugural member of Gaon of Light Association, ever-present since founding, called God's proxy and executor.

In crises, he sacrificed himself to save others—his skill protected countless knights from monsters and Villains, binding them to him.

Those feats elevated him to Knight Order Captain.

Beside him, the burly advisor was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠1st Knight Order Leader and Hunter Association Special Forces Vice-Chief Jeong Hyeon-seop—the original owner of the skill from the red-maned Fire Wolf….

Until last regression, I'd taken his life; this time, his skill.

'Come to think of it, this place is full of those I killed in past regressions.'

Having gifted 998 deaths, standing here unscathed begging re-Awakening felt bitter. A dry chuckle escaped.

"Rumors say Captain's getting named Hero this time?"

"Oh! Finally, the Iron-Blood Pope's edict?"

"Looks like it. Who else fits Hero better?"

"Right!"

'Hero… so that's why he was so desperate to kill me last time.'

Recalling Kang Dae-jin's fervent eyes, burning with mission to slay the Demon King, I listened to the excited Awakeners—by then, the line had shortened.

"Number 199, Kwon Mu-hyuk. Already Awakened, here for re-Awakening. Fee: 25 million won. Prepaid. No refund if bell doesn't ring or you fail. Agree?"

"Yes."

"Payment confirmed. Climb the stairs past this door to the Bell Tower. Grasp the holy sword hilt in the center to check eligibility and start quest. Understood? Best wishes for your desired re-Awakening."

The stone-faced clerk returned my card with a capitalist smile.

"Yeah, hope so."

'Or my rage at these exorbitant fees might raze this place again.'

Sleepless night or steep cost—I felt irritated. Were these the 'bright, good people' bro meant?

Regardless, my feet carried me up the stairs beyond the awakening door.

The top was a vast white marble corridor, a single beam from the ceiling radiating holy aura.

Bathed in it, a dazzling holy sword pierced a sturdy stone altar.

"Grabbing this triggers re-Awakening, right?"

A normal Awakener would seize it without hesitation. But I was once Demon King—and might become one again.

The holy sword's power might incinerate me, or my Demon King awareness snap it.

Steadying with deep breaths for potential fallout, I cautiously gripped the hilt.

'Hm? Does this usually come out this easily?'

It slid free like from tofu, startling even me, numb to most things.

"What… a hidden quest out of nowhere?"

No lightning charring me, no hellish destruction party—just a hidden quest. SS-grade, no less! With two Unique rewards.

'Jackpot.'

I hit Y without hesitation.